howell



(No Model.) 8 4 Sheets-Sheet 1, JIA. HOWELL.

TORPEDO LAUNGHING APPARATUS. No. 484,658. Patented Oct. 18, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.J. A. HOWELL. TORPEDO LAUNOHING APPARATUS.

No. 484,658. Patented Oct. 18,1892.

W i o weu 4 sheets-w eat 3.

(No Model.)

J. A. HOWELL. TORPEDO LAUNGHING APPARATUSI No. 484,658. Patented 0011.18, 1892'.

'rlll'lllflllllllllal II/IIIIIIIIIIIIA'V.

(N0 Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. A. HOWELL. TORPEDO LAUNGHING APPARATUS.

No. 484,658. Patented Opt. 18 1892'.

Unwrap STATE PATENT QFFICE,

JOHN A. IIOVVELL, 0F \VASIIING'IOIQ, DISTRIQT OF OOLUilIBIA.

TORPELlO-LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,658, dated October 18, 1892.

Application filed September 18, 1891. Serial No. 406.129. No modeld it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to torpedo-launching apparatus, particularly to launching apparatus for torpedoes of the description of my torpedo, wherein the driving-gear consists of a fly-wheel to be spun up to a high velocity, together with and acting through a shaft and screw or other propelling instrumentalit-y,

as set forth in my patent granted January 27, 1885, and bearing the number 311,395.

The object is to'employ such a torpedo in connection with a tube, gun, or barrel, from which it is to be projected or fired'by any suitable means furthermore, in the employment of a tube, gun, or barrel to be able -to-give the same the requisite motions for training, and also present a convenient and efiicient form of carrying the power-conveying means to their place of operation, at the same time protecting them from rackingor other injury; fnrthermore, to center the torpedo in thetube and present it in position for certain engagement of the spinning mechanism with the driving-gear, holding the torpedosecurely against turning while the flywheel is being spun up and be able to discgage spinning mechanism and driving-gear without stopping the spinningmechanism; furthermore, to maintain the torpedo in place in the tube and yet be able to release it at the proper moment, and, finally, to project the torpedo from the tube in a ready, certaimand eifieientmanner.

With thesis objects in view the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, I have illustrated forms of apparatus in which the fiy-u incl torpedo is to be spun up or speeded' by application of -the spinning mechanism through the longitudinal axis that is, through the propeller-shaft to the fly-wheel through the end of thetorpedo; but

carrying the lly-wheel that is at the side of the torpedo.

Inthe drawings, Figure l is a view in horizontal longitudinal section, partly in plan, showing a torpedo-gun suitable for containing a fly-wheel torpedo that is to say, a torpedo-gunwithspinningattachmentwhereby the fly-wheel of such a torpedo can be spun or spceded up, the gun being here shown as adapted to speed up a longitudinal-axis torpedo, (such a torpedo being shown in position ip the gun,) though the gun may have its spinning mechanism arranged laterally to speed up a transverse-axis torpedo, as in my patent of January 27,1885, No. 311,326, or otherwise; showing, furthermore, specific spinning mechanism and a clutch to conmeet with the;torpedo-driving gear, in this instance with the propeller portion thereof; showing, furthermore, a form of mechanism whereby a torpedo'driving gear-clutch may be thrown into and out of operation, the dis-- engagement occurring without necessarily stopping the spinning mechanism; showing, furthermore, the position of thesafety device (appearing more fullyin l ig. 2) to engage with the torpedo and keep it in place in the gun; showing, furthermore, a spoon or hood, and, by a broken line on the forward end or spoon or hood of the gun, where the figure is in plan, and also rearward the position of the retaining-groove and on the torpedo the tenon; showing, furthermore, a form of torpedo-holding device located in the run, the holding device being here'a hollow piston providod with a groove at the bottom (st-on central) and one at the top (not seen in this figure, but appearing in Fig, 1;; showing, turthern1orc,a portion of the in'rizontally-revoluble mount (appmning more fully in Fig. 3) and the pivots :u. trunninns \Jllll'l the gun is held in tho inountshowing. lurthcrinrn-c,

steam or other fluid conduit and exhaust swinging breech-block securely closing the passing through the pivot; showing, furtherrear end of the gun by swing bolts and nuts, more, a receptacle for the expelling agent at and showing, finally, the hand-gear in dot- 7c the rear of the gun and behind the piston;- ted lines, the dial, the crank, the valve-rod showing, furthermore, escape or relief ports eccentric, the valve-rod, a rigid rod under it,

around the gun in advance of the trunnions; and a connecting-bar pivoted at each end to showing, furthermore, the position of springa rod and in the middle to the strap of the latches in advance of the relief-ports, and apeccentric, forming a lever of the second class, pearing more fully in Fig. 2; showing, fur-' .tlie rod of the spinning mechanism engaging to thermo're, a fluid-supply pipe leading from a and disengaging with the rod of the clutch pivot or trunnion of thegun to the recepta e to the torpedo-driving gear, being beyond in tor the expelling agent at the rear of the gun horizontal plane with the valve-rod and being behind the piston, the expelling agent being connected by a bar like that connecting the in this instance steam or compressed air, and rigid rod and the valve-rod with a block s the expelling agent in the form of apparasliding between springs on a rigid rod untus here selected for mere illustration of the derneath it, affording a movable or yielding broad invention'bcing led to the receptacle fulcrum, or rather shifting the fulcrumfrom through the breech-block, the breech-block the movable rod to the fixed rod when the being shown pivoted on the supply-pipeto movable rod has completed its movement,

to swing laterally and provided with a reeeivthus permitting further motion of the bar ingchamber or steam-chest having two ports without injury to either rod. Fig. 3 is a view controlled and opened alternately by a valve, in vertical cross -section showing a stand one port leading to the rece taele behind or mount by which power is supplied to the 9 the piston and the other to a arkers millgun and exhaust taken therefrom through 25 motor; showing, furthermore, the motor jourthe pivotal support, on which the gun is nalcd on friction-rolls and discharging into mounted,the specific form here presented for an exhaust-chamber connected by a pipe illustration of the broad invention being .a with the other pivot or trunnion, and showcurved frame of pipe horizontally pivoted on ing, finally, hand-gear for operating both the a supply-pipe from above and an exhaust- 30 valve and the mechanism whereby the drivpipe frombelow, and vertically pivoted on ing-gear clutch may be thrown into and out short pipes, which pass laterallyinward to of operation, there appearing a crank against the trunnions of a gun heldthereim. Fig. 4 a dial, the edge only of which is seen, a rod. is aviewin perspective showing another form upon which the crank. is fixed, carrying two of mount, one horizontally pivoted on astand- 5 eccentrics, one at the valve-rod and the other ard, through which the supply and exhaust at the rod of the spinning mechanism, for lead, and having ayoke or Y-arms to take engaging and disengaging this with the rod the lateral supports from the tru-nnions of the of the clutch which turns the torpedo-drivgun to pivot this vertically. The mount may M5 in g gear, and a rod under the rod of the be relieved from strain on any rollingor o spinning mechanism for a block between pitching of the vessel by spring-seating the springs, (more fully shown in Fig. 2,) to shift traversing-lever and the elevatingdevice'. and the fulcrum from the under rod to the rod of instead of the fluid-motor for the spinning the spinning mechanism when this has commechanism there may he the electric motor pleted its motion (its motion being shorter here indicated.

45 than that of the valve-rod) and let the valve- In the drawings,Aindicatesatorpedo tube, rod complete its motion. Fig. 2 is a'view in gun, or barrel'suitable for containing either side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal a longitudinal-axis or a transverse-axis fiysection, with portions broken away to display wheel torpedo, in the present illustration the n 5 some of the internal parts which then appear invention being shown'as adapted to a. longi- 0 in verticallongitndinal section,the viewshowtudinal-axis fly-wheel torpedo B.

ing the gun and attachments with torpedo in- The tube or gun is formed, preferably, with dicated in position and representingin addia hood or spoon A'fi'and has extending lontion to what appears in Fig. 1, or more fully gitudinally along its top within from rear to no the spoon or hood, the spring-latches to act front a groove a of suitable size and shape 55 as brake-stops to the piston, the holding to receive and retain against vertical or'latgrooves of the piston with the vertical fins of oral escape a te'non b on the backof thetor the torpedo in them,thcsafcty-device pin propedo over its center of gravity. There may jccting to keep back the'hollow piston and be grooves at the sides takingatenon at each engaging with the torpedo at a notch in the side of the torpedo. This is for the purpose 60 lower fin to keep it in place in the gun, showof sustaining the torpedo and guiding it uning, also, the means for operating and releustil its tail is clear of the gun. ing the safety device, the projecting pin, with The tube, gun, or barrel is mounted in or a piston-head working in a cylinder, upon an on a stand in a manner to permit it to be adjustable spiral spring,a port leading above traversed or elevated and .depressed-thzitis its the piston, and a pipe leading from the retrained-and is supplied with power and ex ceptaclc behind the piston for the expelling hansts through the training pivots, thus agent to the port; showing, furthermore, the avoiding strain upon the means of conveyance of power or of discharge by locating them in the line or lines of least motion, at once protecting them from exposure.

The stand or mount may be either a frame C, composed of supply and exhaust pipes c c", a length of curved pipe 0 into which the supply-pipe leads at one end; the other end opening into a pivotal pipe 0", connected with one hollowed trunnion of the gun, another pivotal pipe 0 connected with the'other hollowed trunnion of the gun and opening into a further length of curved pipe 0 diametrically opposite the first and leading into the exhaust-pipe o the frame being completed, by curved pipes c c, diametrically opposite each other, closed at both ends, and the supply aud exhaust pipes afiording, with the frame, a verticalpivot for traversing the gun, and the pipes at the trunnions'affording a horizontal pivot for elevating and depressing the gun; or the stand or mount may be a rotary standard C having a yoke or Y-arms or, connecting with the pivotal pipes at the trunnions, and the supply and exhaust bein g a ain through the training-pivot, (see Fig. 4,) and with th stand or mount of any kind the tube, gun, or barrel may be spring-seated on its pivots for traversing and elevating and depressing to relieve strain from rolling, lurching, and pitching of the vessel. Thus the traversing device and the elevating and depressing device may be yieldin-gly held, as by the springs c and 0 in Fig. 4. The supply may be electricity or other power, and in that case would lead to an electric motor G or any other suitable motor on or in the gun, as shown in Fig. 4, Where an electric motor is shown on the gun in front of the trunnions and connected with gearing to speed up the fly-wheel; but the preferred construction is to employ steam or compressed air and bring the supply to a chest which feeds a motor that may be at the side of the gun to spin or speed up the fly-wheel of transverse-axis torpedo or be at the rear to spin or speed up the fiy-wheel of a longitudinalaxis torpedo. In the present illustration, a longitudinal-axis torpedo being operated upon, it is preferred to locate the'spinning mechanism at the rear. The supply-piper: then leads to the breech-block D and suppli. a its pivot-that is to say, the breechblock is pivoted on the pipe 0, parting on the line *v v, and is secured to the rear of the gun when shut by swing-bolts and nuts (Z The supply-pipe c enters the steam-chest (Z in the breech-block, and from this chest by two ports (1 d, controlled by a valve (2, having a stem (1 to be closed or to be opened and 'closed alternately, lead two ducts d and d the duct (1- to the hollowjournal of a Barkersmill motor D and the duct d to a receptacle oz for the expelling agent. The motor here is a common one and needs no further description. It runs on friction-rolls d at its journals and discharges into the exhaust-- pipe 0 The shaft (1 of the motor is movable endwisc, and at its inner end has any suitable construction or configuration which will enable it to engage with and turn another shaft, -its outer end poojecting beyondthe rearof the breech-block. Motor and shaft constitute spinning mechanism.

At the rear of the breech-block D is the hand-gear E. Thisconsists of a crank e, fixed on a shaft e extending laterally across the rear of the breech-block below the valvestem and motor-shaft, and supported in brackets e e on the block. In the vertical plane of the valve-stem the shaft has fixed upon it an eccentric e*, provided with a strap a, and in the vertical ,planebf the motor-shaft another eccentric a provided with a strap e The strap of the eccentric e is pivoted to about the center of a bar e", which is in turn and at its ends pivoted above with a slot to the valvestem and below to a fixed and rigid rod e, projecting from the rear of the block. The strap of this eccentric e is pivoted to about the center of a bar e which is in turn and'at its ends (the upper one slotted) pivoted above to a link connected to the motor-shaft that it may turn, and below on a fixed and rigid rod 6, projecting from the rear of the block somewhat farther than the other fixed rod to take springs. The bar e is not, like the bar e, pivoted directly. in its fixed rod, but is pivoted in a block a, which slides on the fixed rod e, and is held thereon between adjustable spiral springs e, which encircle the rod. It will be seenthat turningthe crank in onedirection pushes both the valve-stem and shaft in, while turning it in the other direction pulls them both out; but it will be observed on inspection that the throw or capability of movement endwise of the motor-shaft is less than that of the valve-stem. Hence if the connections of the two were alike, after the motorshaft had reached .the end of its movement the valve-stem could not be moved farther without injury to the shaft. To adjust this. the movable spring-seated block e on the rod e yields, transferring the fulcrum to the motor-shaft and allowing the valve-stem to complete its movement. The crank turns on the face of a dial; and this dial is provided with appropriate markssuch as Shut, Open, Fireindicating the position to be given the crank to close, bothports or to open either.

Within the tube or gun and fitting the same snugly and smoothly is a hollow piston F, with chamfered edge at its rear, to leave a circumferential chamber when inserted into a closed tube on its rear. The piston is provided centrally within with a hub or boss f, through which passes a short shaft f being on its outer end of any construction or configuration suitable to enable it to engage with and be turned from another shaft-in this case from the shaft of the motor, the two constituting engaging and disengaging mechanism-and on its inner end provided with a clutch f to engage with the propeller of the torpedo, and thus turn the fly-wheel to speed iup the driving-gear. The hollow piston F has grooves f at top and bottom, into which thevert-ical top and bottom fins of the torpedo enter, whereby the relative vertical position of the torpedo with respect to the shorter axis of the gun is maintained-that is to say, whereby the torpedo will be retained in the. gun with its axis coincident with the axis of the gun.

About ninety degrees or at any suitable distance from the entrance of the duct d into the receptacle 0. for the expelling agent this receptacle comm unicates,bya dp ct (1, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2,) with a pipe a which leads to the port a of the safety device A. This safety device consists of a box .or cylinder a", holding an adjustable spring a, upon which rests a piston at, having for its stem the pin a which normally, by pressure of the spring, projects upward through an opening into the gun just in advance of the front or open end of the piston, and when a torpedo is in place takes into a notch in the lower fin of the torpedo, this device serving as asafety device both to keep the piston in position before firing and to keep the torpedo from falling out. It also serves in a measure to center the torpedo. The port enters the box or cylinder of the safety device above its piston.

Circnlarly around the tube, gun, or barrel at any convenient distance from the breech are openings A serving as relief or discharge openings for any fiuid of or fromthe expelling agent after the rear of the piston has advanced beyond them, and to stop the piston there are further provided spring-latches A, constituting friction-brakes.

The torpedo launching apparatus here shown is operated as follows: The stop or throttle valve on the steam-pipe (not shown) being closed, the swing-bolts are loosened and the breech-block. is swung downward on the supply-pipe as a pivot until the entrance to the tubeis clear. The torpedo is then inserted into the tube from the rear, with the tenon in the groove in the top, and is pushed forward until the pin (1. of the safety device takes into the notch in the vertical bottom fin of the torpedo. The hollow piston '15 is then pushed in from the rear, its grooves taking upon the vertical fins of the torpedo until it strikes the pin of the safety. device. The breech is then closed and bolted. Th'e handgear should be in position shut before the stop or throttle valve is opened. Then, by moving the crank to the position Open the steam or compressed air passes to the motor and the engaging device connects the clutchshaft, turns the clutch, and speeds up the flywheel of the torpedo. crank to the position Fire the valve cuts off supply to the spinning mechanism, the con- Now by turning the the pipe over the piston of the safety device, releasing the pin (1. As the piston of the safety device is set to be more easily moved than the large hollow piston in the gun, the pin will recede before the large piston moves. The large piston then shoots forward and the torpedo is blown out; but pressure falls as and the piston is caught by the friction-brake stops.

By the employment of the spinning mechanism in connection with the tube or gun with or without a piston any projectile-for example, particularly, a rocket-may be given a rotary motion, as from a rifled gun, and by the employment of the piston in a tube, gun, or barrel direct blast upon the projectile, which in some cases by greater escape above or below or on one side or the other of the projectile tends to cause the projectile to deviate from the path intended for it, is avoided. If it is desired merely to center the projectile, the piston may be supplanted by a sleeve.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in apparatus for giving motion to projectiles, of a tube, gun, or barrel suitable for containing a projectile, spinning mechanism,and means for connecting the spinning mechanism and the projectile, substantially as described.

2. The combinatiou,with any tube, gun, or barrel suitable for containing a fly-wheel torpedo, of means for spinning or speeding up the fiy-wheel of the torpedo, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, in torpedo-launching apparatus, with a torpedo tube, gun, or barrel for fly-wheel torpedoes, of spinning mechanism and a clutch to connect the spinning mechanism with the torpedo-driving gear, whereby the fly-wheel of an inserted torpedo can be spun up to the requisite velocity, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in torpedo-launching gear'or apparatus, with a torpedo-barrel, of a fly-wheel torpedo contained therein and a clutch for engaging with'the driving-gear of the torpedo, substantially as set forth.

5. The eomhinatiom'with a tube, gun, or barrel suitable for containing a fly-wheel torpedo, of a clutch for engaging with the driving-gear of the torpedo, spinning mechanism wherebythc fly-wheel can be spun up, and mechanisnrfor engaging and disengaging the spinning'niechanism with the clutch,the disengagement occurring without necessarily stopping the spinning mechanism', as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination, with a torpedo-barrel, of a fly-,wheel torpedo contained therein, a clutch for engaging with the fly-wheel, spin- ;ning mechanism whereby the fly-wheel can be spun up, and mechanism for engaging and soon as the piston passes the opening A disengaging the spinning mechanism with the clutch, the disengagement occurring without necessarily stopping the running of the spinning mechanism, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a tube, gun, or barrel, of a horizontally-revoluble stand or mount on which the tube, gun, or barrel is placed, whereby the tube may be traversed,

as and for the purposes set forth.

. 8. The combination, with a tube, gun, or barrel, of a horizontally-revoluble stand or mount on which the tube, gun, or barrel is pivoted, whereby the tube, gun, or barrel may be traversed and also elevated and depressed, thus is trained, as set forth.

9. The combination, with a tube, gun, or barrel, of a horizontally-revoluble stand or mount on which the tube, gun, or barrel is pivoted, whereby it may be trained, and conduits or conductors which pass through the pivot at the tube carrying power to the tube, gun, or barrel to drive the spinning mechanism and perform other operations as and also exhausting through thetraining-pivot, whereby the conveyors or conductors will be free from strain and be protected.

10. A stand or mount foratopedo tube,gun, or, barrel, consisting of a frame composed of supply and exhaust pipes, a curved pipe into which the supply-pipe leads at one end, the other end opening into a pivotal pipe connecting with. one hollowed trunnion of the tube, gun, or barrel and opening into a further curved pipe diametrically opposite the first and leading to the exhaust-pipe, the frame being completed by curved pipes diametrically opposite each other, closed at both ends, and the supply and exhaust pipes supplying, with the frame, avertical pivot for traversing, and the pipes at the trunnions,a horizontal pivot for elevating and depressing, as and for the purposes set forth.

11. The combination, with thetorpedo tube, gun, or barrel, of a latch safety device to engage with the torpedo, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the torpedo-barrel, of a torpedo contained therein and a latch safety device located on the torpedo-barrel and engaging with the torpedo notched to take the latch, whereby the relative longi tudinal location of the torpedo with respect to the longitudinal axis of thetorpedo-barrel is maintained, as set forth.

13. The combination, .with a torpedo tube, gun, or barrel, of a safety device located on the torpedo tube, gun, or barrel and a fluidpressure device for operating and releasing it, substantially as described.

14. The combination, with the'torpedo-barrel, of the torpedo contained therein, asafety device located on the torpedo-barrel and engaging with the torpedo, whereby the relative position of the torpedo with respect-to the 1ongitudinal axis of the torpedo is maintained, and a fluid-pressure device for operating and releasing the safety device, substantially as described.

15. A sliding sleeve or. vessel within the tube, constituting a torpedo-holding device located in the torpedo-barrel to engage with the torpedo, whereby the relative vertical position pf the torpedo with respect to the shorter axis of the torpedo-barrel is maintained, that is to say, whereby the torpedo will be retained in the tube with its axis coincident with that of the tube, as set forth.

'16. The combination; with the torpedo-barrel, of a torpedo-holding device located in the torpedo-barrel to engage with the torpedo, whereby the torpedo will be retained-in the tube with its axis coincident with that of the tube, and a latch safety device to engage with the torpedo, assist in retaining it in proper position, and restrain it from falling out of the tube, as described.

17. The combination, with a torpedo-barrel having a longitudinal retaining-groove at its top within, of a torpedo contained in the tube and provided with a tenon at its top of suitable form to be retained in the groove, as described.

18. In a torpedo-launching apparatus for fly-wheel torpedoes,'a torpedo gun, tube, or barrel provided. with a longitudinal retaining-groove at its top within, as set forth.

. 19. The combinatiom with the torpedo-bar-- rel having a longitudinal retaining-groove at its top within, of the torpedo contained-in the tube and provided with a tenon at its top of suitable form t9 be retained in the groove, of

a holding device in the tube and a safety piii therein.

20. The combination, with the torpedo-tube having the longitudinal groove, of the torpedo having the lug or vertical fin, whereby the torpedo is inserted in a determined position with respect to the tube, substantially as described. 1

21. Thecoinbinatiomwith the torpedo-tube,

of the projecting safety-pin having the piston-head working in the cylinder-box,a port, a spiral or other suitable spring, and an adjusting-nut, as set forth. 22. The combination, with the torpedo-barrel provided with a receptacle for the; expelling agent, of the torpedo contained 'in the barrel, a safety device locatedori the .torpedo-tube for centering the rorpedo,a"device for operating and releasing the- ,centring device, and connections between, said receptacle and the centering device, whereby on the release of the centering'device the torpedo is automatically fired, as described.

23. The combination, witha torpedo tube, gun, or barrel, of a removable'internal vessel for holding the projectile, the vessel in use being always wholly within the tube, substantially' as described. I

'24. The combination,;with a tube, gun, or barrel, of a piston provided with'a clutch for engaging with and turning the projectile or a part thereof.

; The combination, with a tube, gun, or

barrel containing a piston open at its front end and provided at its rear end with a clutch for engaging with andturning the projectile or a part thereof, of means for engaging and disengaging with the clutch, substantially as described.

26. The combination, with a tube, gun, or barrel containing a piston open at its forward end and provided at its rear end with a clutch -for engaging with and turning the projectile or apart thereof, of means for engaging and disengaging with the-clutch and a spinning device for turning the shaft of the engaging and'disengaging means with the clutch, the engagement and disengagement occurring without necessarily stopping the spinning device, substantially as described.

'27. The combination, with a tube, gun, or

' barrel, of a piston provided with a clutch and having a chamber behind it, means for engaginganddisengagingwith the clntcl1,n1eans for spinning the engaging and disengaging means, and fluidressure ports connected with the spinning mechanism and with the chamber, wher by 9. contained projectile may be spun and the driven out or fired, substantially as'de'scribed.

- 28. The combination,-witha tube, gun, or

- barrel, of a piston provided with a clutch and having a chamber behind it,.engaging and disengaging means to the clutch, spinning mechanism, fluid-pressure ports to connect with the spinning mechanism and with the, chamber, and hand-gear for opening andshutting otf supply offluid tothe spinning mechanism, to the chamber, and to both, substanivel y, to rods set at an angle to the bars from the same shaft and from the same eccentric or crank or from eccentrics and cranks of the same size, whereby when a rod having a shorter length of movement has completed its movement a rod having a greater length of movement may move on, substantially as described.

30. A tube, gun, or barrel provided with an opening or with openings in' its body in advance of the original receptacle for the expelling. agent, whereby pressure will be diminished upon a projectile fired from it before the projectile leaves the tube.

31. The combination, with a tube, gun, or barrel provided with an opening or with openings in its body, of a piston adapted to be projected outward by fluid pressure and to push a projectile, and a stop-or catching device for the piston, the stop being in advance of the openings and these being in advance of the position of the piston before firing, whereb'y pressure will be diminished upon the piston and this will be arrested before it reaches the end of the gun and the projectile will continue onward by its inertia, substantially as described.

In a mount or stand for a tube, gun, or barrel, the traversing device, in combination with spring 0 attached to the movable standard and to a stationary, plate, substantially as described.

33. In a mount or stand for a tube, gun,or

barrel mounted upon a rotatable support, a spring-support, as c, attached tothe tube, gun, or barrel and to the support, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix signature in presence of two witnesses. v

JOHN- A. HOWELL.

VVitn'ess'es: I

R. "G. DYRENFORTH, F. B. KEEPER. 

